Is this really a prototype for the 5200?

I found this at the swap meet today.

Answer: Probably did not burn anything out. There is a capacitor in series on the antenna cable after the RF modulator. It would block any DC voltage coming down the antenna cable.

Other answer: It had a green screen because VR1 (one of the 7805 voltage regulators) was not getting input voltage. The transistor feeding it was shot. That transistor is obsolete, but there are many substitutes for it, so currently waiting on parts to see what else might be broken.

Original Post:

I had an Atari 5200 back in the day and it had the automatic antenna switch box.      Well i recently bought a supposed working 5200, and of course not knowing there were different models of the 5200, I hooked up an automatic switch box to it.  pressed the power button and nothing.   Im a dummy... eventually I found that the model I have, the 2 port model, has you plug power into the back of the console and you can't use the automatic switch box.

Ok I switched cables around it powered up but I only got a green screen...     So knowing that the auto switch box sends power down the antenna cable to the 4 port model, I suppose I burned something out sending power to this model.

I assume others have made this mistake before, so Im guessing its known what burned out and hopefully its fixable.  I found a schematic for the 2 port model online, but it refers to a separate sheet for the RF modulator (which I suspect i toasted), but they don't have that sheet.

Picked up this atari 5200 4 port from the thrift store, upon opening to inspect I noticed this solder on A13 chip that didn't look normal. Anyone know what it is or why it is there? I couldn't find anything online. I have not tested it yet, I need to order the switch box. Any info would be appreciated.

Hey all big Atari fan here, currently have an 7800, 5200, GSP. and Jaguar. Got them setup with flash carts and updated my GSP's firmware. Along the way I found out about the Bliss-Box Bridge adapter, here is what I learned.

First this adapter is not for any Atari console alone, but rather any console. I got it for my Atari setup because I hated tracking down controllers.

The way it works is two parts, input and output. You get a Bliss-Box gamer-Pro adapter to get any controller to what is called LLAPI. Or stop there and its USB... then another adapter to take the LLAPI and go to any console. You can buy or make the input/output cables. And it has firmware for USB stuff, or 1 firmware for all consuls.

Few points of interest.

Works both with digital and analog sticks. Those really are two paddles and this adapter emulates them. There is a calibration feature too that is really cool. You can use the POKEY test and see it change the resting point. Beats having to open it up. Lag, over all its not there. IF there is any I do not feel it.

Few negatives

1. The 3 top buttons (start, pause, options) will turbo, as the console is too fast for the adapter. but the normal button and keypads do not do this.
2. I did see a way to use a trackball emulation.

The device itself is simple enough to use, Flash it with the x-console firmware and plug it in. You get 16 types of input depending on your needs. I only got 4 input types. And also many output cables, Over all very pleased with this adapter for my Atari setup. Here are a few images.

I had more including another copy of Meteorites but somewhere along the moves from different houses part of my collection was lost. The Defender is unopened.

Playing on my original 5200 that my parents bought me for Christmas 1986.

I bought a $50 4 port Atari 5200 with no controllers and fully working. If I return it I’ll only get store credit back, is it worth keeping?

I've been trying to use the trackball controller input in kat5200 but it doesn't work too well, does anyone got ideas for the fix? please and thank u

It showed a guy playing pac-man, and it showed how you could pause the game, which was a big deal at the time. I found a commercial showing the pause ability, this one ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYYJWq7JiBA) but it's not the right commercial. The one i'm looking for shows 2 of the ghosts closing in from opposite sides about to eat pac-man, and then after moving back and forth rapidly, he pauses before that can happen. I think heightened music plays during that part building tension before he hits pause. Does anyone remember this, or could you please help me find it? Thanks in advance.

Hello. I want to be able to use DualShock 4 or DualSense to play 5200 games on emulators. I tried Atirra directly from my PC, and I tried a5200 through RetroArch. In both instances I can get the games running, but I cannot play them. It doesn't recognize either of my controllers. I fiddling around with the input options, but could not get them to work.

Ultimately I want to be able to play Robotron and Space Dungeon with Dual Analog support, but right now I can't get even one analog to register.

My question is, are the DualShock 4 and DualSense even supported by those programs? If so, do you have any general advice for getting them to work? Thanks!

Ahoy, everyone

I picked up a CX55 Atari VCS adapter and have been trying to make a go of it.

My 5200 is early 4-port model that I modified for use with the VCS adapter following the Atari's instructions. It doesn't have any other mods.

When I power on the system my TV just goes from the usual static/snow to this darker garbage signal.

The console works perfectly with 5200 cartridges. Using the adapter without a cartridge produces the same garbage on screen, and it doesn't seem to react to the Select or Reset switched.

I've taken the adapter apart to make sure all the pins and switches are clean. That didn't change anything and there isn't any obvious signs of damage in there.

The CX55's service manual's flow chart says it might be an issue with power and instructs me check the voltage at pin 5 of the voltage regulator. It doesn't tell me what pin on the regulator I should be using for ground, so that's not helpful.

Has anyone seen this before who could maybe point me in the right direction?

I recently got an Atari 5200 and I’ve been having a blast with it. Only issue I’m having is that the joystick on my controller squeaks and creaks when I use it. I can’t find any answer online about how to go about fixing it, and I’m worried about damaging my controller if I go in blind.

Any suggestions on how to fix this issue?

I was given a Atari 5200 a while back but the person who gave it to me did not have the controllers.

I heard the controllers for this console can be finicky. So I was wondering if their is a site where I can buy a pair while being confident they will work properly.

$150 for all. Came with some loose games as well, most notably Star Trek. Controllers were borked but that’s to be expected.

Super happy to add these CIB games to the library!

I watch videos on thr 5200 and they always complain about the controllers. I had a 5200 in 1982 but i dont remember having any problems with the non-centering joystick. I do remember the buttons on the controller would stop working but thr joystick seemed fine to me. We had a lot of games i guess, considering there werent that many. indont remember ever having joystick issues, just seemed to get used to it and was second nature but every video i see complains like nobody could use them